Rationale: Attention span and ability to attend or concentrate may be severely shortened, which both causes and potentiates anxiety, affecting thought processes.

2. Confer with SO to compare past behaviors and preinjury personality with current responses.

Rationale: Recovery from head injury often includes a prolonged phase of agitation, angry responses, and disordered thought sequences. It is helpful to know about client’s past behaviors in order to determine if current behaviors can be attributed solely to the brain injury. Note: SOs often have difficulty accepting and dealing with client’s aberrant behavior and may require assistance in coping with situation.

3. Maintain consistency in staff assigned to client to the extent possible.

Rationale: Provides client with feelings of stability, familiarity, and control of situation.

Rationale: Reduces risk of triggering fight-or-flight response. Aggression, anger, and self-control are common problems in braininjured clients, who may become violent or physically or verbally abusive.

8. Listen with regard to client’s verbalizations in spite of speech pattern or content.

Rationale: Conveys interest and worth to individual, enhancing selfesteem and encouraging continued efforts.

9. Promote socialization within individual limitations.

Rationale: Reinforcement of positive behaviors, such as appropriate interaction with others, may be helpful in relearning internal structure.